The New Atlantis - Reviews & Reactions

[themagician]

Todays the today! The New Atlantis officially opens. This is the place to share your thoughts, comments, feedback and photos of the new precinct at Sea World.

[Tricoart]

Garden of Cyphers

 

the Seaworld VQ says Leviathan is a 5 minute wait. Is that accurate or is it looking like hours to ride it?

 

17 minutes ago, Vidgamer said:

the Seaworld VQ says Leviathan is a 5 minute wait. Is that accurate or is it looking like hours to ride it?

Hours, and there’s no single rider queue

 

17 minutes ago, Vidgamer said:

the Seaworld VQ says Leviathan is a 5 minute wait. Is that accurate or is it looking like hours to ride it?

If it says 5mins it’s either just a glitch or no one’s realised that virtual queue would be on today and will be a free fast pass essentially.

Also, the like currently stretches out into the plaza, so good luck everyone there.

 

16 minutes ago, Tricoart said:

no single rider queue

As in it doesn't exist or they're not operating it?

 

12 minutes ago, Rivals said:

If it says 5mins it’s either just a glitch or no one’s realised that virtual queue would be on today and will be a free fast pass essentially.

Also, the like currently stretches out into the plaza, so good luck everyone there.

Yeah it’s about a 3hr wait 

[LSM]

First off, the theming is very good. I knew they had put in some effort but it was really impressive, especially in the station. The line in the middle of the station is a nice touch but it can get quite loud with the train circling around. Probably will get louder as time goes on I imagine but it offers some great views of the track.

The ride itself is very fun, first drop doesn't look too impressive but it's a strong element and in the back offers a good amount of floater. The interaction with the structure is great and there's a lot of small airtime pops and double downs that keep it fun throughout. Did notice a bit of a pot hole in the middle when the track reaches its lowest point but otherwise it's reasonable smooth for a woody. Probably won't get another ride as the ops are slow as they learn the ropes, they are running two trains but we were sat on the break run for a few minutes.

It's great to have wood coaster in Australia again.

[Moxie Metro]

How long does it take from entering the queue to riding?

[Gazza]

14 minutes ago, LSM said:

It's great to have wood coaster in Australia again.

Indeed, nice to have some variety compared to Scenic Railway or Wild Mouse.

[Dean Barnett]

18 minutes ago, LSM said:

The line in the middle of the station

Have you got any pics of this ?

[New display name]

I'm getting VOWT_X

[Park Addict 93]

Bikash’s story has the line going out to the plaza.

Listed wait time in the app is currently 45m, it was listed as 5mins earlier.

Infrastructure has been built for VQ/FT but it is not yet operating.

[Vidgamer]

It now says 150 on the app.

[Gazza]

14 minutes ago, New display name said:

I'm getting VOWT_X

It's a regional dialect.

[Tricoart]

[[SPOILERS AHEAD]]
Just got off my first walkthrough/ride of multiple today, so I’m far from an expert on the topic, but I’ll try my best to cover the bases.

Theming

The whole theming of the area is great, for current-day Village. There’s still some pretty open areas, and as the concept art shows, it could use some more trees to make it feel less empty. Garden of Cyphers is a nice place to sit down, but I’d imagine it gets loud, due to…

Leviathan

The queue for Leviathan is split up into 3 distinct sections: Queue (the blue shade structure inside of the helix), a sort of Holding Zone, and the walk to/station. There is no single-rider queue, and a mention for a disabled entry, but it isn’t the main queue or the exit. 
 

Starting with the Queue, it’s pretty and is mostly enclosed in the helix. I’m sure this will be fine once it’s been open for a while, but it’s certainly caused a lot of overspill now. As for its theming, it’s surrounded by faux rock & plants on all sides, with the ride itself being just above said walls. It’s certainly good looking, but I can’t help but think it’s a bit too short (and, just quietly, the ride isn’t quiet, and people were already getting irritated at the near-constant ride noise from being surrounded by the coaster).

The Holding Zone is pretty self-explanatory, after being advanced from the queue, you’re put into a little hallway and wait to be allowed into the station. If you’ve been to Fright Nights, it’s basically just the wait between the queue and entering the maze. If you haven’t, it’s a mixture of Scooby Doo’s post-warehouse queue, and the second boarding row in Steel Taipan’s station. Not much to say about it’s theming (it’s just a hallway), but I noticed there are names on the bolts on Levi’s supports, which is cool.

Last queue section, the walk to/station. Seeing as this is completely indoors, it’s definitely got the best theming of the 3. You enter through the sliding door, and are surrounded by faux rock and cool blue lighting, as you advance up the staircase to the station. The station is where it shines, smoke-filled with faux rock blended into the advertised screens, where Leviathan swims around and tells you off from time to time. This is, by a decent amount, the best theming I’ve seen in Australia. (Sorry for blur in the photos, it was completely indoors and I had to keep moving)

Now, the ride itself. As you dispatch, more smoke billows out in front of you. Small dip, lift hill, Leviathan says ‘Ride With Me’, then you’re in the layout. Being a wooden coaster, the layout is (as expected) far less forceful than the likes of Superman, DCR, or ST. Thus, it’s more fun and rerideable than insane and physically tolling. Also, being a wooden coaster, it’s not the smoothest thing ever, but it’s luckily far from uncomfortable. I didn’t notice any big potholes, nor did I feel scrambled after riding like you would on Cyclone. It’s a great, rerideable, fun, family-thrill ride, from the drop to the brakes. I’m not skinny by any means, but I’m not the heaviest person either, and it was a bit of a squeeze to fit, so if you’re overweight you might have some trouble getting your restraint locked (and there’s no test seat, so you’ll have to queue before you know). In case you’re interested, here’s its vertical and lateral force graph.

Once done, Leviathan tells you you’re worthy and you exit through a similarly-themed staircase to the one you entered through. Then you’re spit out into a maze of tight painted work walls, walk through the ride photo booth, past the main queue area, and are spat out the way you came.

Vortex

Vortex hasn’t changed since it originally opened, so if you went on it then, you know the experience. If not, it’s just a decent flat, a worse Wipeout with rather generic ‘ocean’ theming (though it fits in more now that the whole area is open, ofc). Also, they may have dulled its squeaking? Idk, but I haven’t heard any.

Trident

As discussed elsewhere, Trident wasn’t open due to high winds, but the ride experience is pretty predictable if you’ve been on a swingchair before. The theming is a step above Vortex, with a colosseum-style ride platform, some nice murals/detailing work, and Big Man. All in all, the details are good (but the trident at the top should’ve been larger).

Edited December 2, 2022 by Tricoart

[New display name]

Thank you @Tricoartcan you tell us what happens with your loose items?

[Ogre]

Just came off. Loved it! Felt a little slow though so looking forward to trying it later as it warms up.

The theming in the station was terrific and gives me high hopes for Wizard of Oz. I'd go as far as saying it was world class. Have to be careful that it doesn't fall into disrepair like Scooby. One borked screen would ruin it.

Edit: There is a test seat. It's to the left right as you enter the main queue. 

Edited December 2, 2022 by Ogre

[Tricoart]

7 minutes ago, New display name said:

Thank you @Tricoartcan you tell us what happens with your loose items?

There’s some bins on the other side of the station, you just chuck ‘em in there and pick them up once you get off. They’re at the bottom of this photo, near the news guy’s legs.

7 minutes ago, Ogre said:

There is a test seat. It's to the left right as you enter the main queue. 

Oh nice, I must’ve missed it in the panic. I’ll queue again and see if I can grab a photo

Edited December 2, 2022 by Tricoart

[jjuttp]

28 minutes ago, Tricoart said:

You enter through the sliding door

Are we talking a glass door like Sea Jellies and the penguins or a themed one like Diagon Alley in the movies?

 

Also those walls should really have something done with them. Really annoys me how parks never complete the experience by theming your way out.

[Tricoart]

3 minutes ago, jjuttp said:

Are we talking a glass door like Sea Jellies and the penguins or a themed one like Diagon Alley in the movies?

 

Also those walls should really have something done with them. Really annoys me how parks never complete the experience by theming your way out.

Sea Jellies, you can see ‘em in the photo with the red scribble (reflective on one side, black on other).

Oh, also Dockside’s reopen.

Edited December 2, 2022 by Tricoart

[New display name]

@Tricoart If you are up towards the front of the train, do you walk halfway down the train to store loose items or is there bins up the front too?

[Tricoart]

3 minutes ago, New display name said:

@Tricoart If you are up towards the front of the train, do you walk halfway down the train to store loose items or is there bins up the front too?

Halfway, it’s a big op booth.

[New display name]

Thank you @Tricoart

Your photo shows a parked empty train and people still not ready to be loaded.  I hope this is day 1 issues.

 

[Troy81]

Would highly recomend riding backwards.

[Moxie Metro]

^So they’re selling the backwards tickets? How much for?

[TBoy]

1 hour ago, Moxie Metro said:

^So they’re selling the backwards tickets? How much for?

$30 IIRC, same as MW DC Rivals

[Stevie]

The photos and videos I've seen from today have me so jealous! I saw in a facebook comment that staff had said Trident still needs more test runs but has been hampered by the wind/storms recently. It's a shame but you can't fight nature. At least Leviathan didn't need to share any of its spotlight 

[Ogre]

The ride was down for most of the afternoon, but finally got back up and running around 5pm. The staff said they'd make sure everyone in the (long) queue would all get a ride, which was great to see.

I got a back row ride this time (rode on the middle row before) and the experience was significantly better. Very, very fun. I didn't really notice the airtime before, but this time I did!

Can't wait to ride it at night at Carnivale. That thing is likely going to haul like crazy at the end of a hot day!

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I got on a couple times yesterday. 

I will say - Wow. I'm so happy we finally have a decent woody down under and they've done a great job with most elements of the experience (those exit walls though).

The station experience is really cool, I do wish there was more time to experience it as I feel a lot of the detail is lost due to the rush to get loaded while the second train bakes in the brake run. 

The opening day crew were struggling at the beginning, but by the afternoon (even with all the wind stoppages) they had hit their stride and found the right rhythm. 

My personal opinion - Backwards seats aren't worth it. You can't see the headchoppers, and the airtime elements aren't the same facing backwards. the thrill of a woodie is seeing all the nearmisses and going backwards I just felt like a ragdoll.

Out of the three gimmick seats we have on the GC, i'd rank them Taipan first, Rivals second, Levi third.

I want to discuss the show without giving too much in the way of spoilers. I also want to be clear that this is just my thoughts on what i'd prefer, and I have absolutely no direct knowledge of whether this is the case \ whether my suggestion is possible and\or how hard it would be to do - call it a wishlist item? I got the impression that dispatch wasn't possible until the show scene completed, and I think this is going to hurt in peak times. I like the idea of a loop of interaction scenes that repeat (but have more scenes than necessary for the time you'd spend on station) and then a method for ops to skip to the last scene on dispatch - so the show tailors to the Ops tempo, rather than Ops tempo being limited to the show.

I think the speed of Ops would be greatly improved if they could have a second group on the station while the first group is being loaded, and I feel like the above is what you'd need to do so as not to ruin 'show'.

Not seeing the loading procedure before you get there has always been a way to cause delays in load - as there is no monkey-see monkey-do. 

This isn't a criticism of the show as-implemented. Those elements are fantastically done - I just felt it could have been done differently to improve ops. Hopefully at a park like Sea World after the initial hubbub dies down, it won't impact nearly as much.